Athaliah Seizes the Throne
Study note
When Queen Mother Athaliah learned that her son Ahaziah was dead, she murdered all the remaining royal family members to secure her own power. She was the daughter or granddaughter of Ahab and Jezebel and brought their violent ways to Judah. But Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, secretly rescued the baby Joash and hid him with his nurse in the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
1 Queen Mother Athaliah learned her son Ahaziah was dead. She right away tried to kill every member of the royal family. And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
2 But King Joram's daughter Jehosheba, who was Ahaziah's sister, secretly saved baby Joash. She grabbed him from among the royal children who were being killed. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom, keeping him safe from Athaliah. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
3 Joash stayed hidden inside the Lord's temple for six full years while Athaliah ruled the country. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
Jehoiada's Plan to Crown Joash
Study note
In the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada organized a coup. He made a covenant with the commanders of the royal guard and showed them the young prince. He carefully arranged the guards to protect the boy during the coronation ceremony in the temple. Using weapons that had belonged to King David, the guards surrounded the young prince. Jehoiada placed the crown on seven-year-old Joash, anointed him, and the people clapped and shouted 'Long live the king!'
4 In the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada sent for the commanders of the palace guard and brought them to the Lord's temple. There he made an agreement with them, had them swear an oath, and then revealed the king's son. And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.
5 He told them his plan: "Here is what you need to do. One-third of your men who start their shift on the Sabbath will guard the palace." And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;
6 "Another third will be posted at the Sur Gate, and the final third at the gate behind the guards. You will rotate in guarding the temple." And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.
7 "The two groups going off duty on the Sabbath will stay and protect the Lord's temple and guard the king." And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.
8 "Form a tight circle around the king, weapons drawn. Execute anyone who tries to break through your line. Stay by the king's side no matter where he goes." And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.
9 The commanders followed Jehoiada's orders exactly. Each one gathered his troops -- the men coming on duty and those going off. They reported to the priest Jehoiada. And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
10 Jehoiada handed out the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, which had been stored in the Lord's temple. And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.
11 The guards stood with weapons ready. They lined up from the south to the north side of the temple. They circled the altar and the temple to shield the young king. And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.
12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king's son, placed the crown on his head, and gave him a copy of God's covenant. They anointed him as king, and everyone clapped and cheered, "Long live the king!" And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.
The Death of Athaliah
Study note
When Athaliah heard the noise of the celebration, she rushed to the temple. When she saw the newly crowned king standing by the pillar, she tore her clothes and screamed 'Treason! Treason!' But Jehoiada ordered the soldiers to take her out of the temple and execute her. She was not to be killed in the Lord's house.
13 Athaliah heard the commotion from the guards and the crowd. She rushed to the Lord's temple where everyone had gathered. And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.
14 She looked around and saw the new king standing in the traditional spot by the pillar, with commanders and trumpeters beside him. The whole crowd was celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah ripped her clothes and shrieked, "Treason! Treason!" And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.
15 Jehoiada commanded the officers, "Escort her out through the line of soldiers. Kill anyone who tries to defend her." He added, "She must not be executed inside the Lord's temple." But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.
16 They grabbed her and forced her through the horse entrance into the palace grounds. That is where they put her to death. And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.
Jehoiada's Covenant
Study note
Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord's people. The people tore down the temple of Baal, smashed its altars and images, and killed the priest of Baal. Then the guards escorted the young king from the temple to the palace, and he sat on the royal throne. The whole country celebrated, and the city was at peace.
17 Jehoiada then arranged a covenant: the Lord, the new king, and the people all agreed together that they would serve as the Lord's people. He also made an agreement between the king and the people. And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD's people; between the king also and the people.
18 The whole crowd marched to Baal's temple and demolished it. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan, Baal's priest, before the altars. Jehoiada then posted guards at the Lord's temple. And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.
19 Jehoiada gathered the commanders, the guards, and all the people. Together they brought the young king down from the temple. They entered the palace through the guards' gate, and the king took his place on the royal throne. And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.
20 The entire nation celebrated, and the city enjoyed peace. Athaliah was dead. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.
21 Joash was only seven years old when he became king. Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.